Implementation of Safety Guidelines in Public Secondary Schools: Key Role of Strategic Interventions in Nandi County, Kenya

Abstract

The attainment of safety standards in secondary schools is dependent on how various stakeholders are sensitized, trained and empowered on safety protocols, measures and actions. The sensitization is not a onetime event but an activity that is regularly undertaken, reviewed and updated. This paper examined the how the level of safety awareness that influences the implementation of safety standards and guidelines in public secondary schools. The study adopted a Convergent Parallel mixed method Design. The study was anchored on pragmatic research paradigm and comprehensive school safety framework. The target population was Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs) from the six Sub-Counties in Nandi, 30 principals and 2844 teachers. Sampling of QASOs was done through purposive sampling procedure, principals and teachers was done through stratified simple random sampling technique. Data collection was done using questionnaires, interview schedules and observation checklists. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis, the results revealed that there were variations in the implementation of safety standards and guidelines in public secondary schools in Nandi County. Quantitative data was analyzed through use of descriptive statistics, specifically frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics was performed involving Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression at p < 0.05 confidence level. The results revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between safety awareness strategies and the implementation of safety standards and guidelines at p=0.011. It was concluded that the higher the level of safety awareness the higher the implementation of safety standards and guidelines in public secondary schools in Nandi County. The paper recommends that management of public secondary schools should ensure that members of staff (academic and non-academic) and students receive proper safety sensitization, education, training and protocols to enable them be prepared to handle and manage disaster incidents that may occur in their schools.